Agenda Report
Fullerton City Council
MEETING DATE: november 18, 2025
TO: CITY COUNCIL / SUCCESSOR AGENCY
SUBMITTED BY: stephen bise, p.e., public works director PREPARED BY: RICHARD ARMENDARIZ, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS - MAINTENANCE TODD LE, P.E., PRINCIPAL WATER ENGINEER
GAR HUANG, ASSOCIATE civil engineer
SUBJECT: $935,349 contract with SCW Contracting Corporation FOR sunclipse well 10 temporary pfas treatment plant
SUMMARY
Award a $935,349 construction contract to SCW Contracting Corporation for the Sunclipse Well 10 Temporary PFAS Treatment Plant Project.
PROPOSED MOTION
Approve plans and specifications for Project 53023, Sunclipse Well 10 Temporary PFAS Treatment Plant.
Award $935,349 construction contract to SCW Contracting Corporation for the Sunclipse Well 10 Temporary PFAS Treatment Plant Project and authorize City Manager, or designee, to execute and administer the contract, in a form approved by the City Attorney.
Authorize Public Works Director, or designee, to approve any future change orders for construction and professional engineering construction support services within the approved project budget.
ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS
Approve the Proposed Motion
Reject all bids
Other options brought by City Council
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the Proposed Motion.
CITY MANAGER REMARKS
None.
PRIORITY POLICY STATEMENT
This item matches the following Priority Policy Statements:
Fiscal and Organizational Stability
Public Safety
Infrastructure and City Assets.
FISCAL IMPACT
The Fiscal Year 2025-26 Adopted Capital Improvement Program (CIP) Budget has sufficient funding for the project provided from Project 53023 PFAS Management within the Water Fund (Fund 44).
BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION
Due to the high level of PFAS found in the City’s groundwater supply, the City has shut down multiple water wells to address Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations. To date, six of the City’s nine active wells have been shut down, with two of these shutdowns occurring within the last year. The remaining three active wells already have treatment in place or are unaffected by PFAS. These three wells are being used at their maximum capacity but are still unable to keep up with the City’s high water demand, especially during the summer months, which has led to a significant increase in the purchase of more expensive water from the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWD). Additionally, having these reduced sources for water puts the City at risk for an emergency, such as an earthquake or fire.
The Orange County Water District (OCWD) and staff have been working diligently to install treatment plants at all the affected sites to get these wells back in service; but unfortunately, it is a long and slow process. The first two treatment plants came online in 2021 and 2024, with the next plants expected to come online in late 2026 and late 2027. In the meantime, Staff has been exploring options to bring wells back in service earlier to alleviate some of the stress in the current system.
One of the options explored is to install a Temporary Treatment Plant at the Sunclipse Well 10 site. This well is located in the parking lot of an industrial site and is landlocked; parking spaces are a premium and the tenant at the site is unable to forfeit space to the City for a Permanent Treatment Plant. The City is negotiating with the tenant and the landowner and, in the interest of the greater good for the City, they are open to allowing a Temporary Treatment Plant. While a permanent plant at this site is preferable, the City is recognizing and respecting the business’s needs. The City and OCWD are working on the long-term solution for PFAS treatment at this site by planning to route the contaminated water to the Kimberly Well 2 site, where there is adequate space for a Treatment Plant for both wells. A Treatment Plant is currently being built at the Kimberly Well 2 site for Kimberly Well 2, with the possibility for expansion for Sunclipse Well 10. Council was previously approached and approved on September 16, 2025, the purchase of Evoqua Water Technologies treatment vessels for this purpose.
Six (6) bids were received on November 3, 2025, with SCW Contracting Corporation of Fallbrook, CA submitting the lowest responsible base bid of $935,349. The low bid submitted is approximately 17.1% lower than the Engineer’s Estimate of $1,128,000. Staff has reviewed the bid and found it acceptable.
The tentative construction start date is January 2026 with an anticipated project completion in July 2026. Staff will perform outreach with impacted businesses to notify them of upcoming project construction and potential impacts.
An environmental assessment has been prepared in accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act Guidelines, and it has been determined that the project is categorically exempt.
Attachments:
Attachment 1 – Summary of Bids
Attachment 2 – Bid Schedule
Attachment 3 – Project Location Map
Attachment 4 – Draft Agreement
cc Interim City Manager Eddie Manfro
Sunclipse Well 10 Temporary PFAS Treatment Plant Project Award November 18, 2025 - Page 2